All of the following is complete and total fiction. Not a word of it occurred, nor would it.
The Perks of Being a Podcaster
by MrMaxLord
(MF, exhib, cons)
Chapter 10: Hailee Steinfeld
*****
Fresh off the end of my time in New York with Taylor and Ashley, I thought I was going to have a nice, easy going time on my train ride back to finish out my vacation. And I was mostly right. However, something told me the familiar face sitting across from me was going to keep things from being as calm.
"I have to admit," Hailee said, finding just the right spot for optimal comfort and, apparently, sexiness in her seat. "I didn't really expect to see anyone I know here. Not that I'm complaining, I just kind of chose a train specifically for that reason."
"Same here." I replied. "I mean, if I'm bothering you I could jump off the train."
"Awww, how sweet." she giggled. "Nah, I think I'll like the company. I love being on the show, but I've never really talked to you outside of it. This is the perfect chance to change that."
"I didn't know I was that interesting."
"Oh, don't be so coy," Hailee grinned. "Don't forget, we do kind of move in the same circles with some people. You've got a bit of a rep."
"A good one I hope."
"Well, it's one you have to live up to instead of living down."
"I hope it's not too lofty in that case."
"How about you join me for dinner and we can both find out? Besides, I'm actually kind of excited to eat on a train."
"I know, right? Weird."
"Then let's have a weirdo dinner together." We got up and walked together to the dining cart. The train was booked lightly, so getting a seat was a quick affair. As an added bonus, the dinner was going to be surprisingly private and cozy, as there weren't any people seated around us. In fact, the nearest occupied tables were on the other side of the car.
"I am really glad I made sure this was a lightly booked trip," I said, pulling out a seat for Hailee. "Not really a big fan of crowds. Which of course means I needed to take a vacation in New York."
"Ah yes, with that bastion of open space known as Manhattan," she said with a smile. "I hate crowds too, unless I'm in front of them. Like any person with a healthy ego that isn't desperately starved for attention."
"A typical entertainer in other words."
"Exactly." We both laughed, and weren't afraid to hide it, snorts and all. "I get it though. That's why I booked this train. I always like checking that stuff out. And this one got the prize."
"Why were you in New York? Vacation as well?"
"No, all business. No real fun stuff. Which is why, well, train. And it's just me. Not that I don't love my family and friends, I just really needed to decompress from everyone, including them. Too much work, too much personal stuff on my mind, and I thought, hey...trains. No paparazzi, and I can pretty much be alone with my thoughts whenever I want. I don't get that with airplanes. I mean, that's like pa central. And a cruise would have the same problem because there's no way I'm going out to sea without a bikini."
"Well, that's something to be thankful for."
"Hey, I know what I got, and I'm proud. And thanks for looking." Hailee gave me a wink, then sipped at her water. "Still, this seemed the best option, and I've never really traveled just for me, and definitely not on a train."
"Well, so far far as all that stress been eased?"
"Kind of. Work's the last thing on my mind."
"And the personal stuff? I asked.
"Look, I don't want to bore you with that," she said. "I mean, who wants to hear about some silly little drama?"
"Eh, why not? You tell me yours I'll tell you mine."
"Fair enough. Since I brought it up, I'll go first. Okay, so I've been seeing this guy, ya know? And I like him, a lot. I'm not seeing anyone else, neither is he...but we also never said that special thing to kind of signify we're a real thing."
"Of course, that romantic phrase "Don't fuck other people."
"Exactly," she laughed. "But, seriously, I don't even know if I want that. I mean, I'm not even twenty-one, do I want to be in a committed relationship. I mean yeah, I'm famous and that kind of makes casual dating a bit of a problem because how many guys ANY age want to deal with flashbulbs going off in their faces constantly? Like, if I break it off with this guy, what if I don't find another as good as him. On the other side...I'm young and want to have some fun. Some real fun. I don't want to be pushing forty and realize I had a boring ass life."
"I get it. Believe me, I do. I don't know if any of the supposed legends you heard about me involved the fact I almost got married when I was twenty-three."
"Really? What happened?"
"We broke up before I could propose. She met some other guy, and we ended it. We're still best friends, and in the long run honestly it kind of worked out pretty well in the fun department. Also add to the fact that if you have this much doubt you've pretty much already made your decision...I think you just want someone to point that out to you. If the thought enters your head this guy is holding your life back, then you already know it's over."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. He's just SO nice, I don't want to hurt him. But, I don't even know if I'm who I'm always going to be. I don't even know if I'm a close approximation of this future Hailee-type person."
"You might even become a cyborg."
"Oh yeah, totes." She gave me a smile, licking her lips as her eyes caught mine. "Now you. Spill it."
"My thing is I don't even know if I'm with the woman in question or not. It's like, one by one, every single wall in front of us is falling down except for her indecision on it. I mean, I can see she wants to, but she also doesn't want to go full blown commitment because of her work schedule. I mean, Maybe I should take that as a good sign, because it definitely comes across like she wants to make it, you know, official. She actually gave a deadline, when she's done shooting."